Member Rating

Compare Prices on MSC Lirica Middle East Cruises

Excellent value

Sail Date:
February 2012

Destination:
Middle East

Embarkation:
Dubai

Embarkation was a little cumbersome after travelling but quite efficient. More staff positions may have helped.

Cabin far nicer and more spacious than we expected or remembered from a previous cruise with a different line. Bright, clean, efficient but sufficient space. The en-suite area was great and the shower excellent apart from the clingy shower curtain. Our friends had the room made up in two single beds which gave the perception of even more space.

We found the staff and crew pleasant, helpful and amenable. Our dinner waiter wase particularly good and went out of his way to ensure we enjoyed our meals. Any questions at Reception were dealt with pleasantly and efficiently.

The food was generally very good. We didn't book gourmet, we didn't pay gourmet, we didn't expect gourmet but we did get what we thought was very acceptably good food, particularly in the evenings. Service was efficient but we didn't feel hurried (we were on second sitting), besdies we More
wanted to move on to further entertainment.

Yes, the drinks were not cheap but considering it was a captive audience we did not feel ripped off at all, even with the 15% addition. Waitress service in the bars and lounges was excellent.

We found the entertainment in the theatre excellent. Choreography was superb and, yes, it was the same faces performing but every evening was different and the talent amazing. The music and singing in the bars and lounges was always good but you could find other pleasant areas to sit if you didn't want entertainment. Occasionally some of the bar and lounge entertainment was a little puerile but all tastes and many nationalities have to be catered for and you don't have to be there!

There seemed to be something laid on to do all the time if you wanted to and there was always a spot to find to lay in the sun. The pools seemed clean if a little small and a little cool.

We did three excursions and enjoyed all of them. Again they weren't cheap but are they ever? The guides were good and affable. Local booking could be cheaper but we prefer to spend our excursion days doing rather than hunting around to save a minor amount

The whole boat was clean throughout and we had no problem with the 7 euro a day each tip.

Maybe we're easily pleased but I don't think so! Where other people's comments have come from I don't know. What I do know is that we had an excellent cruise with value for money thrown in!

Our embarkation port was Dubai and we called at Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Al Fujairah, Khasab and finally back to Dubai. Only Dubai is featured in the following drop-down lists. Less